Presser foot lifting attachment for sewing machines



L. c. PRESTON 2,576,357

PRESSER FOOT LIFTING ATTACHMENT FOR sswmc MACHINES Nov. 27, 1951 2 Si-lEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 3, 1950 Inventor A tforney L. c. PRESTON 2,576,357

PRESSHER FOOT LIF'IING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Nov. 27, 1951 Filed March 3, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Inventor Lee CiPreston/ A ttorney Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNlTED STATES PATENT 'orrics PRESSEK FOOT LIFTING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Lee 0. Preston, Oakdale, Calif; Application March 8, 1950, Serial No. 147,420

6 Claims. (Cl. 112 -2339) This invention relates to a novel sewing machine attachment primarily adapted for use on sewing machines used in shoe repair work or for sewing leather and which may also be ap-'- plied to other types of sewing machines used for sewing cloth and other material.

More particularly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a sewing machine attachment of extremely simple construction which may be quickly and easily applied to needle "carried thereby are raised by upward swinging movement of said lever end, the attachment will be carried upwardly with the lever end for raising the presser foot bar and presser foot so that the material being sewed may be turned as desired, thus enabling two pieces of material to be sewed together in edge abutting engagement without overlapping of the pieces and by making'a smooth cross stitch through the ability of the operator to turn the two pieces of material each time that the presser foot is thus raised.

Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide a sewing machine attachment which may be readily rendered inoperative without being dis- 51;

mounted from the machine enabling the attachment 'to'remain in an applied position yet to be used only when desired.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment of the invention shown applied to different types of sewing machines, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of sewing machine showing the attach ment applied thereto and in an operative position;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the attachment dismounted;

Figure 3 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view partly in side elevation illustrating all of the parts oithe attachment;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one part of the attachment;

2 Figure 5 is an end eevational view partly in vertical section of the parts as illustrated in Figure 1;

v Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the attachment applied to another type of sewing machine;

Figure '7 is an end elevational view, partly in vertical section of a third type of sewing ma chine showing the attachment applied thereto, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view showing portions of two pieces of material stitched to-' gether in edge abutting relationship and by'a cross stitch formed by any one of the sewin machines utilizing the attachment. I

Referring more specifically to the drawings,- the attachment for sewing machines comprising the invention and illustrated in detail in Figures 2, 3and 4 includes a barrel member l0 having a bore I l of circular cross section which is provided with a threaded end I2 which opens outwardly of the lower end of the barrel member Ill, The bore l I is provided with a restricted, non-circular upper, end 13 which opens outwardly of the upper end of said barrel member [0. The barrel member, adjacent its upper end, is externally restricted to provide a non-circular portion forming wrench lands l4. I

.A head I5 is slidably disposed in the bore H andis sufliciently large to prevent it from passing through the restricted bore portion l3. The head i5 is provided with arestricted extension l6 of non-circular cross section which is sized and shapedto fit non-rotatably in the restricted bore portion I3. A rod I1 is fixed to and projects from the restricted shank l6 ina direction longitudinally of the barrel portion I0. The rod I1 is bent intermediate of its ends to provide a free end portion forming an arm I 8 which is disposed substantially at a right angle to the remainder of the bore II and the restricted bore portion H. An expansion coiled spring I9 is disposed within the bore ll beneath the head l5.

The attachment also includes a threaded connecting member, designated generally 20 com-r prising a body of circular cross section as seen at 2| and which is threaded throughout its length and which is provided with a kerf 22 at one end thereof and a restricted threaded shank-23, whic projects from its opposite end.

, The attachment also includes a tension plate engaging block 24 having a recess 25 which opens outwardly of three sides thereof and which divides the block into a top wall 26 and a bottom portion The rod I1 is bent to provide the arm I8 after it has been passed upwardly through I which is likewise recessed to provide spaced furcaticns 21, defining a slot 28 therebetween. The furcations 27 are preferably beveled on their undersides and toward their free ends, as seen at 29. The top wall 26 is provided with a threaded opening 3!! which opens into the recess 25 and. aligns with the slot 28.

Figures 1 and show the sewing machine attachment applied to one type of sewing machine known as the Singer sewing machine model 29-4. machine, designated generally 3I, which function with the attachment have been illustrated and which include the end of the actuating lever 32 which is connected to the needle bar 33 and the presser foot bar 34, the upper end of which extends into an opening 35 formed in the tension plate 36, adjacent the free end of said plate. The upper end of the presser foot bar 34 is provided with a tapped recess 31 which is normally engaged by a fastening, now shown, for connecting the presser foot bar 34 to the tension plate 36 but which is removed when the attachment is employed. To apply the attachment, th block 24 is applied to the free end of the tension plate 36 so that said end will engage the recess and with the furcations 29 straddling a portion of the presser foot bar 34 and the threaded opening aligning with the tapped recess 31. The stem 24 of the connecting member 23 is then threaded through the opening 30 and into the threaded recess 31 for connecting the block 24 to the presser foot bar 34 and tension plate 36 so that said parts may not move relatively to one another and to prevent the presser foot bar 34 from slidingupwardly through the opening of the tension. plate36,v above its position of Figure 5. The internally threaded end I2 of the barrel I0 is then threadedly connected to the upstanding threaded portion 2I ofthe connector 20 which rises from the block 24 for mounting the barrel Ill thereon, including the parts carried thereby. The spring I9 is compressed between the head I5 and the upper end of the connector 20 to yieldably retain a downward pressure on' the rod H, the spring I9 will be compressed and the head I5 and shank I6 displaced downwardly in the bore I I to disengage theshank I 6 from the bore portion I3 so that the arm I8 may be turned from its operative position over the lever 32, as seen in Figures 1 and 5, to an inoperative position at a .right angle to its positioniof Figures 1 and 5 and parallel to the lever 32, in which position the arm I8 will'be held when the shank I 6, is projected upwardly by the spring I9 into engagement with the bore portion I3; It will thus be readily apparent that the cross stitch forming attachment need not be removed when not in use as it may be readily positioned in either an' operative or inoperative position without disassembling any of the parts thereof. From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that with the arm I8 disposed over' the end of thelever 32 which is conn'ectedto the needle bar 33, each time that the lever 32 swings upwardly'to elevate the needle, not shown carried thereby, said lever will Only such of the parts of the sewing-- 4- together and which pieces of material 38 have complementary edges thereof in abutting engagement but not in overlapping relationship and are stitched together by a cross stitch as seen at 39 in Figure 8. It will be obvious that each time that the needle bar 33 and presser foot bar 34 move upwardly the pieces of material 38 are turned alternately to the left'and to the right.

Figure 6 illustrates the attachment applied to another type of sewing machine known as the Adler sewing machine and which likewise includes a lever end 32a which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the needle bar 33a, a presser foot bar 34a which engages under a portion of the free end of a tension plate 360. and which is provided with a tapped recess 37a in its upper end which aligns with a threaded opening 49 of the same diameter in the tension plate 36a. The shank 24 of the connector 20 extends through the opening 40 and into the recess 31a and threadedly engages each to connect the tension plate 36a. to the upper end of the presser foot bar 34a. The threaded bore end I2 of the barrel I0 engages the threaded body 2I of the connector 20 and mounts the barrel In above and perpendicular to the tension plate 36a and and said body 2| holds the spring I9 under tension, as previouslydescribed in reference to the description of the machine 3|, as illustratedin Figures 1 and 5, but enables the attachment arm I8 to be disposed operativcly over the lever 32a or in an inoperative position, parallel to said lever. In view of the detailed description of, the operation of the attachment, heretofore given, a repetition thereof is considered unnecessary as said attachment operates in the same manner and for the same purpose as heretofore described. However, it will be noted that with the sewing machine SIa, as illustrated in Figure 6, the block 24 is omitted.

Figure 7' illustrates the attachment utilized again without the block 24 and additionally without the connector 20. In the machine as illustrated in Figure 7 and designated 3Ib, the arm I8 in its operative position is again disposed above the end of the lever 321) which is connected to the needle bar 33b. Inthis form of machine,

the presser foot bar 34b is provided with an externally threaded upper end portion 3117 which extends through an opening 35b in the free end of the tension plate 35b. A nut normally engages 7 the threaded-portion 312) above and below the tenstrike-the arm I 3 for raising said arm and the parts connected thereto to thus cause the tension plate 36 and the presser foot bar 34 to be displaced upwardly thus raising the presser foot, notillustrated in Figures'l and 5, so thatv the material being stitched may be turned, thus making it possible to stitch two pieces of material 38' sion plate 362) to adiustably connect the tension plate thereto. The. upper nut, not shown, is removed when the cross stitching attachment is applied but the lower nut 4I remains in. place and the threaded bore end I2 is engaged directly with the upper end of the threaded portion 37?) so that the connector 20 and block 24 are not necessary. The parts I5, I6, I'I, I8 and I9 are employed as in the other assemblies as heretofore described and the spring I9 is held compressed between the upper end of the threaded member 31b and the head I5 and permits adjustment of the arm I8 from its operative position of Figure '7 to a position at a right angle thereto.-

In Figure 7 a needle 42 is shown connected to the lower end of the needle bar 33b and a presser foot 43 is shown connected to the lower endof the presser foot bar 34b. The needle and presser foot are disposed above the work pieces sewing machine.

. Various modifications and changes are con-' templated and may obviously beresorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined'by the appended claims i I I claim as my invention:

1. A presser footlifting attachment for sewing ing machines comprising a barrel member having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough provided with a restricted upper end, means adapted for detachably connecting the opposite, lower end of the barrel member to the upper end of a sewing machine presser foot bar, a rod extending upwardly from the barrel member and having an angularly disposed free end forming an arm adapted to be normally disposed above the end of the sewing machine lever which is connected to the needle bar and in the path of oscil-' lating movement thereof to be engaged by the lever when the needle bar is elevated for lifting the barrel member and presser foot bar, and means detachably keying the other end of the rod in the barrel member for supporting said angularly disposed free end above the sewing machine lever and at an angle thereto or to one side of and substantially parallel to the sewing machine lever.

2. A presser foot lifting attachment for sewing machines comprising a barrel member having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough provided with a restricted upper end, means adapted for detachably connecting the opposite, lower end of the barrel member to the upper end of a sewing machine presser foot bar, a rod extending upwardly from the barrel member and having an angularly disposed free end forming an arm adapted to be normally disposed above the end of the sewing machine lever which is connected to the needle bar and in the path of oscillating movement thereof to be engaged by the lever when the needle bar is elevated for lifting the barrel member and presser foot bar, a head reciprocally disposed within said bore, said restricted bore end being non-circular in cross section and smaller than said head to limit the upward movement of the head, and said head having a restricted non-circular shank to which the end of the rod which extends upwardly from the barrel member is fixed, said shank being sized and shaped to non-rotatably fit the restricted bore end for detachably keying the rod to the barrel member to retain the arm in an operative position over the lever and crosswise thereof or in an inoperative position to one side of and substantially par--' allel to the lever.

3. A presser foot lifting attachment for sewing machines comprising a barrel member having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough provided with a restricted upper end, means adapted for detachably connecting the opposite, lower end of the barrel member to the upper end of a sewingmachine presser foot bar, a rod extending upwardly from the barrel member and having an angularly disposed free 'end forming an arm adapted to be normally disposed above the end of the sewing machine lever which is connected to the needle bar and in the path of oscillating movement thereof to be engaged by the lever when the needle bar is elevated for lifting the barrel member and presser foot bar, a head reciprocally disposed within said bore, said restricted bore end being non-circular in cross section and smaller than said head to limit the upward movement of the head, and said head having a restricted non-circular shank to which the end of the rod which extends upwardly from the barrel member is fixed, said shank being" sized'and shaped'to non-rotatably fit the restricted bore end for detachably. keying the rod to the barrel member to retain thearm in anoperativeposition over the lever and crosswise thereof orin' an inoperative position to one side of. and substantially parallel to the lever, and an expansion spring disposed under tension in said barrel member and bearing against the head to yieldably retain the shank in engagement with the restricted bore position.

4. A presser foot lifting attachment for sewing machines comprising a barrel member having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough provided with a restricted upper end, means adapted for detachably connecting the opposite, lower end of the barrel member to the upper end of a sewing machine presser foot bar, a rod extending upwardly from the barrel member and having an angularly disposed free end forming an arm adapted to be normally disposed above the end of the sewing machine lever which is connected to the needle bar and in the path of oscillating movement thereof to be engaged by the lever when the needle bar is elevated for lifting the barrel member and presser foot bar, said connecting means comprising an internally threaded portion formed in the lower end of said bore adapted to engage the threaded upper end of the presser foot bar to mount the barrel member above and with its lower end in abutting engagement with the sewing machine tension plate.

5. A presser foot lifting attachment for sewing machines comprising a barrel member having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough provided with a restricted upper end, means adapted for detachably connecting the opposite, lower end of the barrel member to the upper end of a sewing machine presser foot bar, a rod extending upwardly from the barrel member and having an angularly disposed free end forming an arm adapted to be normally disposed above the end of the sewing machine lever which is connected to the needle bar and in the path of oscillating movement thereof to be engaged by the lever when the needle bar is elevated for lifting the barrel member and presser foot bar, said bore having an internally threaded lower end, said connecting means comprising a connecting member having an enlarged externally threaded end threadedly engaging in the lower internally threaded end of said bore and a restricted depending threaded shank adapted to extend through a sewing machine tension plate and threadedly engaging in an upwardly opening tapped recess of the presser foot bar.

6. A presser foot lifting attachment for sewing machines comprising a barrel member having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough provided with a restricted upper end, means adapted for detachably connecting the opposite, lower end of the barrel member to the upper end of a sewing machine presser foot bar, a rod extending upwardly from the barrel member and havingan angularly disposed free end forming an arm adapted to be normally dispos'edabove the end of the sewing-machine lever which is connected to the needle bar and in the path of oscillating movement thereof to be engaged by the lever when the needle bar is elevated for lifting the barrel member and presser foot bar, said connecting means comprising a block having spaced top and bottom walls defining a horizontal recess therebetween opening outwardly of the block and adapted toreceive the free end of a tension plate of the sewing machine, the bottom wall of the block having :a downwardlyopening slot communicating with the recess and adapted to receive the upper end of the presser foot bar which extends into an opening of the tension plate, the top wall of said block havinga; threaded opening adapted 'toalignwith a tapped. upwardly opening recess intheupper end of the presserfoot bar, and a connecting member threadedly engaging in the lower end of the bore and having a threaded shank threadedly engaging the threaded opening of the'block' and the tapped recessof the presser foot bar for connecting said barrel member,-b1ock, tension plate and presser foot bar together.

' LEE 0. PRESTON.

REFERENCES "on'nn The following references are 'o'fjrecord in the file of this patent:

UNlTED-STA'I'ES PATENTS Number Name p v Date Iogha 'Au g. 17, 1937 

